new polls show the president and mitt romney are locked in a close contest. we are in washington with what is at stake. >> with the clock ticking toward the first face-off at the university of denver, both candidates are hunkering down. president obama and the presidentprep mill in vegas -- in debate prep mode in the. a weekend visit to church with mitt romney and a practice session with this debate team. >> there tried to be as real as possible. he has been wearing a suit and tie. the are trying to get those answers crisp and appealing. >> he covers the mitt romney campaign for politico, which shows him trailing for the president. >> president obama has the upper hand but it is close enough that with a strong performance in denver, mitt romney could take the lead in the national polls. >> a washington post poll of the majority of voters think the president will win wednesday's debate. >> well you have a very close election nationally, president obama does have the edge in the key swing states. >> some of the reasons were spent for the disparity. >> there is